A SUCCESSION OF FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14926, 26 February 1912, Page 8

A SUCCESSION OF FIRES.

OUTBREAKS AT WHANGAREI.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Whancvrei, Saturday. An epidemic of fires has occured at Whangarei. On November 23 no less than five outbreaks occured during the night at the premises of Messrs. Harrison, Roberts, Drumrabnd, Knight and McMahon, and the public were thrown into a state of consternation. Last Tuesday night a fire occurred at the rear of Messrs. Harrison and Sons' furniture factory. Last night two more fires broke out about 11 p.m. Tho night-watchman was going his rounds when he noticed a glare in the Farmers' Union Horse Bazaar, and discovered an incipient fire beneath the rostrum. It was extinguished with a few buckets of water. Shortly afterwards Messrs. Heath and Morrison's drapery, establishment was found to be on fire, and the building was completely gutted. Arson is suspected. After the fire at the horse bazaar was put out, material which had been soaked in an inflammable liquid, was found to have been piled about the rostrum. The insurances' on Messrs Heath and Morrison's stock are : North British and Mercantile, £200 Northern Assurance, £500 ; Standard Insurance, £500 ; London, Liverpool and Globe, £400 ; London and Lancashire, £600. The total . amount is £2200. The firm estimates its loss at £600 above that sum. The building was insured in the Norwich Union office for £450.